ArcLight is now Changing Lives

Like ArcLight, we are committed to the welfare of the most vulnerable in society. We have particularly strong expertise in supporting people experiencing homelessness and currently house hundreds of vulnerable people across the North East and Yorkshire.

We’re proud that 21,000 people each year use our services to change their lives for the better. We are delighted to have expanded our services to York.

We will continue to run the former ArcLight hostel on Union Terrace and also offer a range of other services for vulnerable people in York, including help with addictions.

Corporate supporters

If you want to continue to support the vulnerable in York, you still can. Contact Changing Lives for our wide-range of corporate opportunities or to discuss a bespoke support package:
donate@changing-lives.org.uk

About Changing Lives

Changing Lives are a well-respected national charity that supports people experiencing homelessness, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, long-term unemployment, mental and physical health issues, and more. We have services in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands: www.changing-lives.org.uk

What Arc Light does

What is it like being homeless?

It's the worst feeling in the world until you have the courage to put your hand out and say you want some help.I can now.

Steve Spence

I have been homeless for about 10 years, in this time I have lived both in Arc Light and on the streets. When on the streets finding somewhere to sleep, stay dry and store your belongings is extremely difficult. We used to have to hide away in bins etc. but now I feel we are generally more accepted than before.

Corporate supporters

If you want to continue to support the vulnerable in York, you still can. Contact Changing Lives for our wide-range of corporate opportunities or to discuss a bespoke support package:
donate@changing-lives.org.uk

Talk to us

We welcome any questions you may have about Arc Light or homelessness. Please contact us through the form below.

Well. Here l am. Standing at the gates of Arc Light. Like a scared child on his first day at school. Why scared? Look at me. Six foot tall 120 kilos with arms like a gorilla and the ability to raise a temperament to match. My face wears the battle scars of age like much fought for medals and my voice (when used in a particular manner) can quietly bring apprehension to the eyes of most men using intelligent but instantly assertive words, always few, always forceful.

The only fear of my own my whole life has been to be hurt or to die unhappy. I have always dealt with the first fear in the same way and defended myself vigorously. My greatest fear now is the latter and as I stand looking at the intercom button for reception I am scared that it will happen soon.

I lost my wife 10 years ago to a brain haemorrhage, lost my son 6 years ago to heroin, lost my business 2 years to a broken my leg and lost my home today through debt. I feel now there are not many things to lose, the list is coming to an end, my mind, my pride, my dignity and of course my life are all I feel left and my greatest fear could soon be realised. For I am desperately unhappy and standing at the gates of a hostel for the homeless.

Psychosomatic manifestation into physical form has brought my health into question. My head is filled with the horror stories bestowed on me by well meaning and concerned friends. Fights, muggings, drug and alcohol induced crazed people ready to attack, being constantly on guard from all manner of assault and suggestion.

So with the image I and others have painted the intercom button is pressed and a voice welcomes me to my new home, I feel awful. My room though basic is more than sufficient and has a pleasant view. Unfortunately at this stage it doesn’t do anything to allay any fears. I’m shown the bullet proof lock on my door and assured of the staffs round the clock support and left to “settle in”.

The only emotions that came to the surface over the next few days were those that had caused me pain during my life. I tried to suppress them and rationalise my situation but to no avail, when the staff, who by the way I grew to have an enormous liking and respect for, asked as to my well being I regularly and unashamedly broke down.

Unable to see the greater picture and surrounded by preconceived people I found it hard to comfort myself, the idea of sharing my space with people I had nothing in common with was alien to me. I had a choice of course. I could have slept on the streets and there I am no better than anyone else. So why did I think I had nothing in common with others in here?

Self diagnosis is a wonderful thing and somewhere towards the end of my first week I managed to see clearly. I was a self centred, judgemental hypocrite. My needs were no greater, were no most urgent and I was no more deserving or better than the next residents and not in danger. I viewed others in a different light and started to assimilate and empathise with them, they too had a story to tell.

I have grown not only to respect those around me but have been filled with a desire to help, to listen, to play a part in their future as the Arc Light has played a part in mine. I have found friends and built relationships with those I thought would be my attackers, felt respected by those I previously saw as a threat and hopefully made a difference, however small to their lives.

After one day less than seven weeks it has been deemed appropriate that I should move on to shared housing, the next stage in my re-settlement and an enormous leap forward. I will appreciate in a greater way the things I took for granted before. A key to a front door, a kitchen to cook in but most of all an immeasurable amount of tolerance for those I judged before, those who have become an important part of my life and my life will be richer for theirs.

Well that’s my story. None of it would have been possible without the help and support of the staff, some very special to me but all with one aim. To care not judge, to guide not push and to make a difference.

I will always remember the first day but more importantly, I will remember my last with fondness and humility.

HI, I would just like to say a few words about the Arc Light Project and how it played a part in my personal journey of homelessness and drug addiction.

Anyway, I wanted to write this as although at the time I was not appreciative of the help that I was given, nor did I recognise it. I have now changed my life around a little and moved to another area.

To the staff: Thank you for your patience, the smelly mattress, the dirty covers, and free sandwiches that I was given all them years ago. I know now that this helped me to stay alive for another day and also to keep some form of kinship with the world around me. I grew up in York looking at homelessness and those with addiction problems as scum, and at times became a bully towards anyone that in that position. I then had to eat humble pie as I realised that I was one of them! the other, the outsider, the smack head, junkie, tramp (although I had enough denial at the time to still think I was better and God’s gift, even with no teeth and track marks alover my body) Ha! Ha!

I just want to say that I think you are doing a great job with some of the most difficult people in our society. I know you all recognise that we are just products of the world around us and for many it is really not their fault they find themselves in this situation. Again thank you very much for your help!! Please also pass on my words to the residents...

A note for the residents - I was at one stage in the exact same place as you are in now and, for many, yours will be better. At the time I lived in the Arc Light, I was out grafting, selling, cheating, ripping people off and taking many class A drugs. My family disowned me, friends were ashamed of me and most people I came into contact with got their lives turned upside down. I spent many years of my life in prison and whilst all my friends were out making a life for themselves, meeting women, starting careers, partying, living happy memories, I was locked away in a 12-6 cell or staying on a smelly mattress in Arc Light (sorry staff but you must admit, the old place was like this). However all this came to an end, when I woke up to the fact that I can either stay on the margins of society, blaming the world, sucking up resentments, and entering more and more depression. Or I could bite the bullet, accept the help that I was offered, and make something of my life.

I have now changed my life around and went to University to study criminology. I achieved a BA Hons and then went onto to further this with a MA in human rights and ethics. Alongside this I knew that I had to use the experiences of life that I had to help other people and so started working for a project that helps people to recover from addiction. I have since set up three of these projects across the north of England and been lucky enough to receive promotions for my work, making me Area Manager for our services.

I have my own house, car, TV, clothes and most important memories. I have a loving relationship with a girl that I have been with for 6 years, and I am able to choose what I want to do with my life, not be dictated by the criminal justice system, welfare state, or any other hierarchy of power.

I am not writing this as a message of "the boy done good" as for me that is a load of crap. The reason I have managed to do this was through the values of the people that stood by me and loved me back into a person. Those who showed me I had potential, those who helped me to fight through the urges, cravings, and lifestyle for both drugs and crime. Those people that see through the masks I wore and recognised a person underneath, those people that understand drug users don’t fit into round holes all the time and systems only catch people, but don’t let them go. It is these I thank for my lifestyle now and it is these people that are working with yourselves.

I am sorry if this is going on a bit, please recognise that it is not from ego, but from my passion to expose others to recovery. I hope that through passing on a message it becomes contagious to others and an indigenous community of recovering addicts can be established in York.

Peter and Ginette Cobbold and I attended services at St Leonard & St Mary's RC Church, Malton over the weekend of 22 and 23 January 2011 - and were handed a number of cheques and donations of nearly £1,000.

A cheque for £735, from various donations, was handed over by Father Tim Bywater. This included over £500 from passing the hat round at Father Tim’s recent ‘significant’ birthday party. Parishioners of all ages also gave money as they left the church including Celine Longworth, aged 5, who has been saving up her pocket money to hand over to Arc Light.

A further substantial cheque was discovered when the envelopes were opened back at Arc Light.

The parishioners heard how we do not just provide beds and food but are increasingly organising various courses to support those who seek our help to rebuild their lives and find an interest and skills, including current affairs, arts and crafts and IT. There is also, for example, a film club and a hair and beauty group.

We would like to start new activities but need more volunteers to help it.

The money donated from the church will be going towards developing such activities.

Our links with St Leonard's go back many years and it was a donation from St. Leonard’s 10 years ago which enabled us to equip our kitchen at the Bullnose building.

We would like to thank you for all the generous donations received.

Father Tim said: "The church is at its most relevant when people's lives are damaged or in crisis and it is an essential element of our faith that inspires us to go to the help of people in need."

Jeremy Jones - Chief Executive

If you would like to support Arc Light in any way, please go to the 'Support Us' section of our website for further details.